Crafting creativity and community
By Andrea Rannard-Lambert, Director of Partnerships & Communications, ELBA
What happens when the whole ELBA team meets grassroots creativity? A vibrant, collaborative day of artistic flair and hard work that benefits the local community and builds team morale.
ELBA partnered with Art in the Docks — an east London-based community arts charity committed to making art and culture accessible to all — to deliver a unique Team Challenge. The whole ELBA team, alongside five current Eagles from our flagship Eagles Graduate Scheme, rolled up our sleeves and flexed our creative muscles to give back to local residents.
Breaking down barriers through creative expression
Art in the Docks works tirelessly to welcome people who may otherwise feel excluded through community-led leadership. By offering a breadth of creative workshops and activities, they enhance a genuine sense of belonging across east London’s historic Royal Docks.
For this challenge, the ELBA team was tasked with creating giant 3D skeletons and Halloween costumes. Working in small collaborative groups, the ELBA team learned sculpturing and costume-making techniques under the guidance of Art in the Docks’ artists. The creations will play a central role in an “after dark” community parade involving local east London families and children.
“Art in the Docks is a key community partner and we are proud to be here today practicing what we preach with the whole ELBA team undertaking a Team Challenge. Team Challenges are integrally important to the communities we serve and our community partners. They also provide enriching and engaging team building opportunities to thousands of corporate volunteers every year.”
— Julie Hutchinson, ELBA CEO.
Over lunch, representatives from different ELBA teams convened with Arts in the Docks Founder Christopher Mike, to brainstorm ideas for the charity. Seated outside on deckchairs and tucking into pizza, Christopher and the ELBA team explored challenges and potential new opportunities for Art in the Docks.
“Art in the Docks greatly values its relationship with ELBA. This genuinely two-way partnership is built on trust, shared understanding and values, and the familiar ease that comes from working together over time.”
-Christopher Mike, Founder of Art in the Docks
Art in the Docks has a close partnership with ELBA that is growing from strength to strength. With a range of community-focused Team Challenges that enable corporate teams to spend time being creative and artistic, these activities provide the support the organisation needs:
“ELBA’s corporate volunteers bring energy, skills and practical support that make a real and positive difference to residents of east London’s historic Royal Docks, while gaining a meaningful connection to the communities they are helping to strengthen. It is a powerful example of how corporate goodwill can be translated into positive, practical action at grassroots level.”
Eagles input
The event was also a milestone for five members of ELBA’s Eagles Graduate Scheme.
Taking part in practical Team Challenges allows Eagles candidates to develop team building, communication and networking skills while directly giving back to their home boroughs.
Highlights of the day
With creativity at its core, Art in the Docks had an illustrator, Halle Peters, present during the day, capturing the Team Challenge as a bespoke piece of art. This is a unique offering the charity can provide to those participating in their activities.
The ELBA team had a memorable day coming together and creating pieces of art that serve a purpose for the community.
To find out more about ELBA’s Team Challenges, please contact challenge@elba-1.org.uk.
